TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

The General US Politics Thread

Go To

Nov 2023 Mod notice:


There may be other, more specific, threads about some aspects of US politics, but this one tends to act as a hub for all sorts of related news and information, so it's usually one of the busiest OTC threads.

If you're new to OTC, it's worth reading the Introduction to On-Topic Conversations and the On-Topic Conversations debate guidelines before posting here.

Rumor-based, fear-mongering and/or inflammatory statements that damage the quality of the thread will be thumped. Off-topic posts will also be thumped. Repeat offenders may be suspended.

If time spent moderating this thread remains a distraction from moderation of the wiki itself, the thread will need to be locked. We want to avoid that, so please follow the forum rules when posting here.


In line with the general forum rules, 'gravedancing' is prohibited here. If you're celebrating someone's death or hoping that they die, your post will get thumped. This rule applies regardless of what the person you're discussing has said or done.

Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#239126: Apr 17th 2018 at 9:52:07 AM

@demongodofchaos2: No it isn't. Sorry if this seems overly aggressive, but seeing Christians constantly try to brand anyone they don't like the anti-christ and go look for the vaguest signs that confirms that pet theory is tiring. Same for the "end of times" predictions that are never true.

Hats aren't stamping, and Trump isn't pretending to be the new prophet of christianity, he barely mentions religion.

Life is unfair...
SciFiSlasher from Absolutely none of your business. Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#239127: Apr 17th 2018 at 10:11:06 AM

[up] You do know they were just pointing out how hypocritical Evangelicals are, right? Clearly not, if you think they're seriously trying to espouse Anti-Christ conspiracy theories.

"Somehow the hated have to walk a tightrope, while those who hate do not."
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#239128: Apr 17th 2018 at 10:14:01 AM

He barely mentions history either. Again which makes self proclaimed religious patriots support for him really hollow, since he never invokes the Bible, past presidents, or any American history at all.

Except those times he's defended the Confederate flag.

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#239129: Apr 17th 2018 at 10:18:11 AM

[up][up] The Anti-Christ might actually be Kushner, now that I think about it. He does have that cursed 666 Fifth Ave property. tongue

edited 17th Apr '18 10:18:33 AM by megaeliz

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#239130: Apr 17th 2018 at 10:20:09 AM

Charlie Dent (R-PA) is retiring. While there will be a special election to replace him, the entire state is getting new districts, so its not that important. This guy was apparently a relative moderate who decided to jump shit because of a Blue Wave and/or his party going nuts.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/17/politics/charlie-dent-resigning-congress-house/index.html

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#239131: Apr 17th 2018 at 10:33:09 AM

[up] "Jump shit"...I'd think it was a typo if p and t weren't so far apart on a QWERTY keyboard. So I'm going to assume it was on purpose. I approve.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#239132: Apr 17th 2018 at 10:38:50 AM

Nah, it was autocorrect, and slight inattention on my part, doing what it does best. But I think this time that the change was an improvement.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#239133: Apr 17th 2018 at 10:42:07 AM

So even autocorrect thinks the GOP are shit? The machines are getting smarter everyday.

Disgusted, but not surprised
TrashJack Confirmed Doomer from beyond the Despair Event Horizon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Confirmed Doomer
#239134: Apr 17th 2018 at 10:45:48 AM

[up] I welcome our new AI overlords.

"Cynic, n. — A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be." - The Devil's Dictionary
Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#239135: Apr 17th 2018 at 11:11:40 AM

A special election is coming up in a week in Arizona-8 and there is now a second poll that shows the democrat (Dr. Tipirneni) at least tied: https://imgur.com/eECIEQm. This is a district that voted for Joe Arpaio for sheriff.

@scifi-slasher: Didn't seem like mocking to me, and it's not the first time I hear the theory on this website. I guess hating someone with power a lot makes you want to believe they're the Anti-Christ, like it happened with Obama and Bush too.

edited 17th Apr '18 11:19:29 AM by Grafite

Life is unfair...
TheWanderer Student of Story from Somewhere in New England (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
Student of Story
#239136: Apr 17th 2018 at 11:21:04 AM

And the Democratic candidate is apparently such an unknown/so under the radar that they don't have even a Wikipedia page.

It seems like a good omen, and one of my great hopes for this year is that Arizona's gradual shift from red to purple will suddenly go into overdrive.

| Wandering, but not lost. | If people bring so much courage to this world...◊ |
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#239137: Apr 17th 2018 at 11:35:28 AM

Just saw this - Missouri's governor has had charges of Computer Tampering filed against him, and good God does his immediate response not help him look better - emphasis added.

Fortunately for Josh, he’s better at press conferences than the law. Anyone who has set foot in a Missouri courtroom knows these allegations are ridiculous. Josh has turned the “evidence” he claims to have over to St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner— a liberal prosecutor funded by George Soros who allegedly suborned perjury, falsified documents, and withheld evidence. We will dispense with these false allegations.

[down]

Even worse because the allegation itself is decidedly mundane - "the Governor used a donor list from his charity, The Mission Continues, for personal gain." So to invoke Soros over that... kinda makes you wonder what else he might be hiding.

Edit: Well that didn't take much digging - an article linked to from the same page says that Greiten's office had asked the AG to recuse himself after the AG called for the Governor's resignation over alleged sexual misconduct that came out after the Missouri House investigated.

edited 17th Apr '18 12:41:56 PM by ironballs16

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#239138: Apr 17th 2018 at 12:04:11 PM

"It's a vast Jewish conspiracy!" is his argument. Wow. Not even trying anymore.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#239139: Apr 17th 2018 at 1:16:16 PM

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2018/04/17/day-453/

Day 453: Crimes of violence.

1/ The Supreme Court ruled that a law subjecting immigrants to deportation for some "crimes of violence" is unconstitutionally vague. Justice Neil Gorsuch – Trump's pick for the Supreme Court – joined with the court's liberal justices, providing the swing vote for the first time in a 5-4 ruling that invalidated the federal statute. (CNN / Politico / USA Today)

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/17/immigration-ruling-gorsuch-528749

2/ Trump rejected a new round of sanctions that would have been imposed against Russia on Monday. Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that "a decision will be made in the near future," and Trump has now decided to not move forward with the sanctions. She added that Trump "has been clear that he's going to be tough on Russia, but at the same time he'd still like to have a good relationship with them." (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/16/us/politics/trump-rejects-sanctions-russia-syria.html

3/ A broadband adviser chosen by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai was arrested last week and charged with fraud for tricking investors into pouring more than $250 million into an Alaska-based fiber optic cable company. Elizabeth Pierce used forged contracts with other companies to guarantee investors hundreds of millions of dollars in future revenue. Pierce stepped down from her role as head of the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee in September of last year. (Wall Street Journal / The Verge)

https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/16/17245010/elizabeth-pierce-fraud-charges-bdac-fcc-ajit-pai

4/ Scott Pruitt upgraded his official car to a larger, customized SUV with bullet-resistant seat covers. The first year's lease of the Chevy Suburban cost $10,200. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/04/17/pruitt-upgraded-to-a-larger-customized-suv-with-bullet-resistant-seat-covers/

5/ Stormy Daniels and her lawyer unveiled a forensic sketch of the man she said threatened her seven years ago to keep quiet about her alleged affair with Trump. She is offering a $100,000 reward for information about the man she described as handsome and fit with sandy brown, slicked-back hair, about 5-foot-9 to 6 feet tall, and in his 30s and 40s. (USA Today / The Daily Beast)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/17/stormy-daniels-donald-trump-view-porn-star-michael-cohen-sketch-reward/523836002/

poll/ Roughly 7 in 10 Americans support tougher U.S. sanctions on Russia, while nearly half say Trump has done "too little" to address Russia's alleged violations of international law. Meanwhile, 52% say Trump should invite Putin to the White House in order to help improve U.S.-Russia relations; 42% oppose the invitation because they feel it would give Putin legitimacy. (Washington Post-ABC News poll)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/04/17/large-majority-supports-tougher-russia-sanctions-post-abc-poll-finds/?utm_term=.66c7bff2533f

poll/ 32% of all Americans have a favorable view of Robert Mueller. 30% view him unfavorably and 38% say they don't know enough to have an opinion. Among Democrats, Mueller's favorability is at 56%, while 49% of Republicans have an unfavorable impression of the special counsel. (NPR-PBS News Hour-Marist poll)

https://www.npr.org/2018/04/17/603039236/npr-marist-poll-gop-dems-divided-on-mueller-as-special-counsels-favorability-dro

Notables.

Ryan Zinke refers to himself as a geologist, even though he has never held a job as a geologist. The Interior Secretary has used the credential to justify everything from shrinking the Bears Ears national monument to making decisions regarding coal revenue, seismic activity, climate change, endangered species, as well as fracking and drilling. (CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/17/politics/ryan-zinke-geologist-interior-secretary/index.html

GOP Congressman Charlie Dent will resign and leave office in May. Dent initially announced his resignation last year and said he planned to stay on until the end of his term, but has now decided that he will instead leave office next month "after discussions with my family and careful reflection." (The Hill)

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/383508-gop-rep-dent-will-leave-congress-in-may

Sandy Hook parents are suing Alex Jones for defamation. The right-wing conspiracy theorist who operates Infowars has repeatedly claimed that the parents of the 20 dead children are "crisis actors" and that the shooting was "completely fake" and a "giant hoax" perpetrated by opponents of the Second Amendment. The parents are seeking at least $1 million in damages. (New York Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/17/business/media/alex-jones-sandy-hook.html

North and South Korea are reportedly set to announce an official end to their 68-year war. Pyongyang and Seoul have technically been at war since the 1950-1953 Korean conflict ended with a truce – and not a peace treaty. (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/17/north-and-south-korea-reportedly-set-to-announce-official-end-to-war.html

The IRS Direct Pay system went down on tax day and is still down as of noon eastern time. Direct Pay is the service that allows taxpayers to make their payments online. "This service is currently unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience," the website reads, noting that "Direct Pay availability has no bearing on your due date." (USA Today / Fortune)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2018/04/17/irs-website-suffers-technical-difficulties-tax-day/524612002/

BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#239140: Apr 17th 2018 at 1:34:16 PM

Gorsuch provided the swing vote in favor of immigrants? Does Trump wish he could fire Gorsuch now? tongue

Do not obey in advance.
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#239141: Apr 17th 2018 at 1:52:19 PM

I thought Gorush's schtick was being overly pro-corporation. It's surprising, but not jaw-dropping surprising.

Or maybe he just wants to push the states to label jaywalking and speeding as "violent crimes" when it comes to immigrants.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
Blueeyedrat Since: Oct, 2010
#239142: Apr 17th 2018 at 3:20:13 PM

Apparently, while Gorsuch did join the majority opinion, he also wrote his own opinion and... yeah, it's an anti-regulation thing.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#239143: Apr 17th 2018 at 4:44:57 PM

"BREAKING: Former First Lady Barbara Bush dies at 92" - Get updates at Reuters.com

Lightysnake Since: May, 2010
#239144: Apr 17th 2018 at 4:45:15 PM

Former first lady Barbara Bush has passed away at age 92

Raptorslash Since: Oct, 2010
#239145: Apr 17th 2018 at 4:46:00 PM

I'm very ignorant about this, but does Russia have an overall endgame with all the plugging far-right candidates in the US and Europe and election interference? In general, how does all this chaos benefit them specifically?

I know that nothing can be really done about Russia because they're on the UN Security Council with a veto power and they're taking advantage of that.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#239146: Apr 17th 2018 at 4:48:33 PM

My honest impression was they were one big Littlefinger. Sowing chaos among their opponents and moving to claim advantages as they come.

edited 17th Apr '18 4:49:07 PM by sgamer82

Imca (Veteran)
#239147: Apr 17th 2018 at 4:56:12 PM

There engame is to sow chaos yes, they actualy don't care about the alt-right, and have been just as quick to push left wing ideologies too when they think they will further destabilize the country.

Its jut the alt-right is the easiest for them to constantly keep stired up into a frenzy, and have the most power to destabilize things right now..

archonspeaks Since: Jun, 2013
#239148: Apr 17th 2018 at 4:57:45 PM

[up][up] Weakening NATO is a big part of it, as well as undermining the US. The whole "sow chaos" thing is just one part of that. Really, anything involving making their enemies weaker makes them stronger in effect.

They should have sent a poet.
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#239149: Apr 17th 2018 at 4:59:55 PM

Yeah it’s pretty much a Littlefinger plot, maximums chaos and division, that’s why they’re not just backing the far right but anything that upsets the social order, Brexit, Black Lives Matter, Sanders, probably #Me To.

The end goal is basicly to cause countries that they see as geopolitical rivals to fall into internal turmoil and be unable to challenge Russia on the world stage.

That means a US to consumed by Trump (be he president, an impeached former president or a sour grapes election looser) to say challenge them in Syria, an EU to damaged by Brexit to challenge them in Ukraine, a UK to financially harmed by Brexit to stop money laundering though London, an EU to internally divided due to Poland and Hungary that it won’t challenge Russia making ties with Turkey, the US/UK/EU being so scandal ridden internationally that people in Russia don’t want to try and adopt what they see as the western concept of proper democracy, a NATO so divided against itself that it can’t make alliances with rising powers like India and Brazil, a Germany so busy bailing out Greece that it can’t invest in renewables and stop buying Russian gas, ect...

edited 17th Apr '18 5:03:01 PM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Raptorslash Since: Oct, 2010
#239150: Apr 17th 2018 at 5:02:35 PM

It's too bad they're co-opting movements that are doing good like BLM, too.

And what would be the best hypothetical way to combat this?

edited 17th Apr '18 5:03:55 PM by Raptorslash


Total posts: 417,856
Top